Motherboard smells bad, best way to clean?

[TwentyOnePenguins]

So, I bought a old socket 775 PC with a Q6600 for 20 bucks. I plan to turn this into a gaming/testing rig with a GTX 780 i have. (Bottleneck feast I know.) But there is one problem... The PC belonged to a smoker, and the entire thing smells horrible, I can't even be in the same room without my throat hurting. So, I will throw out everything ecxept the motherbord, RAM, CPU. So, whats the best way to clean the motherboard? Rinsing it of with water? Alcohol? Vinegar?  Or is there some other product or method i should try?

Any help would be really appreciated!

[MrFoxyCracker]

 

[Enderman]

2 minutes ago, MrFoxyCracker said:

 

I don't think that would work for smoke-ingrained parts...

It's nearly impossible to remove the smell from something that has been in smoke for years.

[MrFoxyCracker]

Just now, Enderman said:

I don't think that would work for smoke-ingrained parts...

It's nearly impossible to remove the smell from something that has been in smoke for years.

I disagree, My mother stopped smoking about 8 months ago, her car reeked of cigarettes, she got it normally cleaned at a car wash and it smells like a new car again.

Seeing as fabric retains smells better than plastic and other such materials, i think it is a good bet to at least try.

[misterp]

It smells!? Wtf dude. Do you have your case open? Why do you care do you sniff your motherboard? Did u cum on it? So many questions.. 

[TwentyOnePenguins]

14 minutes ago, misterp said:

It smells!? Wtf dude. Do you have your case open? Why do you care do you sniff your motherboard? Did u cum on it? So many questions.. 

1. No.

2. I don't, it's noticable from quite far away. 

3. No.

 Any more questions or will that suffice?

[AnonymousGuy]

Hose the thing down with MAF Cleaner.  It's meant for electrical stuff.  Just leave the mobo in the sun for a bit afterwards to dry off.

 

Autozone will have it.

[TwentyOnePenguins]

19 minutes ago, AnonymousGuy said:

Hose the thing down with MAF Cleaner.  It's meant for electrical stuff.  Just leave the mobo in the sun for a bit afterwards to dry off.

 

Autozone will have it.

Thx, I'll check it out. Do you think alcohol would work the same or have I completely lost it?

[iamdarkyoshi]

Brake cleaner

 

I'm serious, douse the entire board in it

[AnonymousGuy]

1 hour ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Brake cleaner

 

I'm serious, douse the entire board in it

NO.  Brake cleaner is not plastic safe depending on brand.  MAF cleaner will accomplish the same thing more safely.

 

Rubbing alcohol can work if >90% but I tihnk its evaporation rate isn't as good as MAF cleaner.  I'm guessing though, but it may be more likely to get trapped under components.  Heating the board up in the sun is intented to help resolve that.

[TwentyOnePenguins]

Alright, thanks for your suggestions I will see if I can track down some of that MAF cleaner stuff.

[iamdarkyoshi]

18 hours ago, AnonymousGuy said:

NO.  Brake cleaner is not plastic safe depending on brand.  MAF cleaner will accomplish the same thing more safely.

 

Rubbing alcohol can work if >90% but I tihnk its evaporation rate isn't as good as MAF cleaner.  I'm guessing though, but it may be more likely to get trapped under components.  Heating the board up in the sun is intented to help resolve that.

I've used brakleen on many dell motherboards with no issues. I've only had it eat one type of plastic known as chinesium. We used it at the laptop repair place I used to work at for cleaning laptop chassis